Cannon Artwork of a generic Kirby-style cannon Details Type Device Function Shoots playable characters into new places, sometimes through blocks Found Hovering in midair or attached to the ground on a fuse Game(s) Various

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This article is about in-game objects used to travel. For cannons used for attack, see Crackler or 3D Helmet Cannon. For the common cannon-like enemy, see Shotzo. For the main cannon on the Halberd, see Combo Cannon.

This article is about the objects that launch Kirby to new places, and should not be confused with "canon", another word for continuity.

A Cannon is an object in the Kirby series which can launch Kirby or another character as a projectile. Using a cannon will allow Kirby to travel across an area, travel to a new area (much like a Door or Warp Star), and/or bust through barricades. Cannons have been a common sight in Kirby series' stage architecture since Kirby's Adventure, with more types being gradually added over time.

Cannon types[edit]

There are several different kinds of cannons throughout the series, with each one having its own set of rules and restrictions. The following is a list of every type of recurring cannon (note that these names are conjectural unless otherwise stated):

Fuse Cannon[edit]

First appearing in Kirby's Adventure, these large black cannons are hooked up to a long fuse, which can span an entire area and must be lit at the end using a fire-based attack from Kirby or another playable character. From there, Kirby must make his way to the cannon before the fuse burns out and enter it in time to be fired by it, usually resulting in gaining access to a new area. If Kirby does not make it in time, the fuse will regenerate, and he can (usually) try again.

Sometimes, enemies such as Jack will take up residence inside a Fuse Cannon, making it unusable by Kirby unless it is forced out. In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, some Fuse Cannons have broken fuses, which need to be aligned by tilting the block they are attached to; in Kirby: Planet Robobot, a Fuse Cannon may need to be moved into place using the Robobot Armor before it can be used.

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  Sprite of Kirby in a Fuse Cannon from Kirby's Adventure

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  A Fuse Cannon in Kirby's Adventure

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  Keychain of Kirby inside a Fuse Cannon from Kirby: Triple Deluxe

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  A Fuse Cannon with a broken fuse, which needs tilting to align, from Kirby: Triple Deluxe

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  "Pixel Kirby (Cannon)" Character Treat from Kirby's Dream Buffet, featuring a sprite from Kirby's Adventure

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Launch Cannon[edit]

This variety of cannon, called Launch Cannon,^[1] was first seen in Kirby Super Star, holding fixed positions in the air. It comes in two main types: directional and auto variants, but Kirby: Triple Deluxe introduces a rare third type.

Directional Launch Cannon[edit]

When Kirby or another playable character enters, the cannon usually begins to rotate between fixed orientations at regular intervals, with the available directions and rotation speed depending on the specific cannon in question. Certain Directional Launch Cannons do not rotate, instead merely holding still. When the player presses the appropriate button to fire the cannon, the character inside will be launched at high speed in the direction the cannon was last facing. While being fired, the character acts as a projectile and will defeat enemies they come into contact with and also bust through sturdier obstacles like metal or stone blocks. The player will not have control over the character until they hit a wall or other obstacle that stops the flight.

These sorts of cannons are often chained together (sometimes with other types of cannons) to create elaborate sequences where characters are shot from cannon to cannon, and are sometimes involved in puzzles.

Two Directional Launch Cannons also appear in the stage The Great Cave Offensive in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

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  A directional launch cannon from Kirby: Triple Deluxe.

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  A directional launch cannon from Kirby Star Allies.

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  A Directional Launch Cannon in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe.

Auto Launch Cannon[edit]

This cannon functions almost identically to the directional launch cannon, but rather than changing direction or waiting for the player's input, the cannon will automatically fire out any character who jumps into it after a brief wind-up.

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  An auto launch cannon from Kirby: Triple Deluxe

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  Model of the figurine

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  An auto launch cannon from Kirby Star Allies

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  An auto launch cannon from Kirby's Dream Buffet

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  An Auto Launch Cannon in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

Tilt Launch Cannon[edit]

First appearing in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Tilt Launch Cannons^[2] rely on tilt controls to be aimed. They also have a variant called Rail Tilt Launch Cannon^[3] that is instead linked to a rail, and can be moved along that rail when the player tilts the Nintendo 3DS system. Once they reach a favorable position, they can be triggered to fire, launching Kirby in much the same way as the Directional Launch Cannons.

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  A Tilt Launch Cannon

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  A Rail Tilt Launch Cannon

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  Two Rail Tilt Launch Cannons

Goal Game cannons[edit]

There are a number of different cannons used for Goal Games in various Kirby titles. These vary in firepower based on where the power meter is when it is activated, sending Kirby further if the meter is higher.

Obscure cannons[edit]

Apart from the common types of cannon found in the series, there are a number of more obscure ones which only appear in a few titles, or only once ever:

King Dedede[edit]

King Dedede once acted as a cannon in a cutscene by inhaling Kirby and firing him toward Nightmare for the final battle in Kirby's Adventure and its remake, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land.

Zebon[edit]

Main article: Zebon

The Kirby's Dream Land 3 enemy Zebon, while technically classified as an enemy, is effectively another type of Directional Cannon. Once it has absorbed Kirby, it will fire him in up to 8 different directions, and can send him to new areas.

Super Cannon[edit]

In Kirby: Canvas Curse, there are two distinct varieties of cannon. The type which would otherwise be considered a normal cannon in other games is referred to here as a Super Cannon,^[4] due to it being more powerful than the smaller variety that merely kicks Kirby forward when he uses them. The Super Cannon requires a tap from the Nintendo DS stylus to use, and allows Kirby to bust through Metal Blocks and enemies that he fires through.

Large cannon[edit]

Exclusive to the Castle Dedede stage in Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn are large cannons that launch large, slow-moving cannonballs. These serve both as obstacles that can hurt the player and as platforms the player can jump on to access secret areas or progress through the stage.

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  An appearance of the large cannon at the beginning of Castle Dedede

3D cannon[edit]

The 3D cannon only appears once, during the fight with Sectonia Vine at the end of Kirby: Triple Deluxe. It is brought in by the People of the Sky, and King Dedede uses it to fire Kirby at the vines blocking the path to Flowered Sectonia's position. Once the obstruction is cleared, Kirby is fired again from this cannon to face Sectonia in the last battle.

The cannon has a full range of tilt-based aiming, though it only fires toward the background. Once Kirby hits a weak point on the vines (or fails to), he rebounds and lands in the cannon again.

Because the 3D cannon is only used in the final battle, it can be considered one of the two closest analogues to a Last Battle Ability in Triple Deluxe (the other being Hypernova, which is used against Flowered Sectonia's final phase, but also at several other points earlier in the game).

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  The People of the Sky bringing in the 3D Cannon

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  King Dedede taking aim using the cannon

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  Kirby being launched at one of Sectonia's eye stalks

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  Credits picture of the People of the Sky helping out the panicking Kirby and Dedede

Four Friends Cannon[edit]

Kirby Star Allies features a combination of four fuse cannons called the Four Friends Cannon,^[5] which is activated by a single fuse. If boarded by four characters, they are all launched together, and their combined forces allow them to break the Huge Rock Block^[6] at the end of their trajectory; if boarded by less than four characters, they cannot break said block.

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  A Four Friends Cannon in Honey Hill

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  A Four Friends Cannon in Extra Eclair

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  Four characters being shot at the Huge Rock Block

Profiles[edit]

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror manual[edit]

• "Hop into a cannon after lighting the fuse, and you'll be blasted to another part of the stage."

Kirby: Squeak Squad manual[edit]

• "Light the fuse of a cannon with fire or another ability, then climb inside and get ready to blast off."

Kirby Super Star Ultra manual[edit]

• "Try lighting the fuse nearby and getting inside…"

Trivia[edit]

• Starting with Kirby's Return to Dream Land, when being fired from a cannon, Kirby keeps his eyes closed tight until hitting a wall or otherwise reaching his destination.
• In most games, Kirby can duck into a Fuse Cannon by crouching. This usually has no effect, but in Kirby and the Forgotten Land and its Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, as well as in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, ducking in the cannon will make any fuses attached to the cannon burn faster.

Gallery[edit]

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  Semi-unused icon for when Kirby is in a cannon in Kirby's Adventure

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  Meta Knightmare Returns credits picture from Kirby: Planet Robobot, featuring Meta Knight in a cannon

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  LINE animated sticker from "Kirby's Puffball Sticker Set"

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  Two toys of Kirby in a cannon, from the book Find Kirby!! Full of Kirby

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  Big Kirby in a Cannon plushie, manufactured by San-ei

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  Buruburuzu mascot plush of Kirby in a Cannon

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  Cannon Vehicle from the "Kirby: MinimaginationTOWN" merchandise series

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  Cannon Vehicle with Kirby from the "Kirby: MinimaginationTOWN" merchandise series

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  Set of Kirby figurines made of soft vinyl

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  Gashapon Kirby-themed Hugcot figurines by Bandai

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  Kirby toy that swings back and forth in a Fuse Cannon. From "Kirby Swing Solar Collection Vol. 3" merchandise, by Eiko

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  Wonderful Towel Collection from "A New Pupupu Lifestyle!" merchandise series

Names in other languages[edit]

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	大砲 Taihō	Cannon
Dutch	Kanon	Cannon
French	Canon	Cannon
German	Kanone	Cannon
Korean	대포 Daepo	Cannon
Brazilian Portuguese	Canhão[7]	Cannon
Russian	Пушка[8] Pushka	Cannon
Spanish	Cañón	Cannon

References